Greeks to Survey Afghan Antiquities

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, January 3, 2002

Greek archaeologists will travel to Afghanistan to check the condition of antiquities stored in the capital Kabul, the culture ministry said Friday.

The plan was discussed in a meeting between Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and members of the Greek archaeological board, the ministry said in an announcement.

Greece has long been concerned about the state of antiquities in Afghanistan from the Hellenistic period, dating to the time when Alexander the Great swept through the area in the 4th century B.C.

Greece has already said it is prepared to contribute to the reconstruction and repair of Afghanistan's museum and to temporarily house antiquities and cultural artifacts.

When the Taliban, the radical Muslims who then ruled most of Afghanistan for five years, had ordered the destruction of all pre-Islamic statues early last year, Greece offered to purchase some of the endangered remains in order to save them.

"A team of Greek archaeologists and other specialist scientists … will travel to Afghanistan as soon as this is feasible," the culture ministry said.